STEVE DOLINSKY/AMY DORDEK DOLINSKY-RECOMMENDED LIST OF CHICAGO RESTAURANTS (AS OF 12/14)
ANDERSONVILLE
Tre Kronor – (best Swedish restaurant in the city – good for breakfast, lunch or dinner and Julbord from 12-1 through 12-31)
3258 W Foster Ave
(773) 267-9888
IRVING PARK
Smoque BBQ (best BBQ joint outside of Texas)
3800 N. Pulaski
773-545-7427
RIVER NORTH:
Eatily (multiple Italian eateries under one roof, bigger version of NYC hot spot)
43 E. Ohio
312-521-8700
Tanta (Amazing Peruvian)
18 W. Grand
312-222-9700
Slurping Turtle (Chef Takashi Yagihashi - ramen, Japanese small plates)
116 W. Hubbard
312-464-0466
Brindille(upscale four-star French – same team as Naha)
534 N. Clark Street
312-595-1616
Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf (steaks, shellfish platters & hearty pastas; dark romantic room)
218 W. Kinzie St.
312-624-8154
GT Fish & Oyster (fabulous seafood, oysters & fish - same team as Balena & Girl & the Goat)
531 N. Wells Street
312-929-3501
Bohemian House or BoHo (upscale Eastern European fare)
11 W. Illinois
(312)955-0439
Topolobompo/Frontera/Xoco(Rick Bayless fine dining and casual Mexican restaurant open for breakfast, lunch & dinner)
449 N. Clark
Piccolo Sogno (Fresh, seasonal Italian - there is also another location at 340 N. Clark)
464 N. Halsted
312-421-0077
Bottlefork (Chef Kevin Hickey formerly of the Four Seasons – great upscale gastro pub)
441 North Clark Street
312-955-1900
Cocello(was Dillman’s deli now an Italian restaurant same owners as Au Cheval and Bavette’s)
354 W. Hubbard
(312) 888-9195
AVONDALE:
Honey Butter Fried Chicken (amazing fried chicken but get there early- always a line)
361 N Elston Ave.
Parachute (Korean fusion by former Beverly Kim of Top Chef)
3500 N Elston Ave
(773) 654-1460
LOGAN SQUARE:
Longman & Eagle (Michelin-starred gastropub; amazing bourbon/whisky list)
2657 N. Kedzie Ave.
773-276-7110
Lula Café (organic, farm-to-table; brunch, lunch & dinner)
2537 N. Kedzie Ave.
773-489-9554
Parsons Chicken & Fish (casual fried chicken & fish with great cocktails)
2952 W. Armitage Ave.
773-384-3333
Billy Sunday (cocktails and thoughtful small plates; lively)
3143 W. Logan Blvd.
773-661-2485
Fat Rice (Macau inspired)
2957 W. Diversey Ave.
773-661-9170
LINCOLN PARK
Summerhouse Santa Monica/Stella Barra Pizzeria (Lettuce Entertain You’s new California fare and urban pizzeria)
1954 N. Halsted
773-634-4101
Balena (modern Italian)
633 N. Halsted
312-867-3888
Barn & Company (good BBQ & great smoked chicken)
950 W. Wrightwood
773-832-4000
Boka– (updated menu and interior and outstanding modern American cuisine)
1729 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 337-6070
NEAR WEST/RIVER WEST
Momotaro -(the Boka Group’s new Modern Japanese restaurant)– My current #1 favorite
20 W Lake St
(312) 733-4818
La SirenaClandestina (Brazilian-influenced, great cocktails)
954 W. Fulton Mkt.
312-226-5300
Au Cheval (a Brendan Sodikoff restaurant & arguably the best burger in the city)
800 W. Randolph
312-929-4580
Embeya(modern, progressive Asian with large dining room – great for bigger parties)
564 W. Randolph
312-612-5640
Belly Q (Chef Bill Kim - modern Korean, hip, noisy, fun atmosphere)
1400 W. Randolph Street
312-563-1010
Girl & The Goat (and Little Goat - Chef Stephanie Izard )
809 W. Randolph Street
312-492-6262
Little Goat
820 W. Randolph Street
Green Street Smoked Meats/High Five Ramen (BBQ place with a tiny ramen noodle shop within. Very casual.)
112 N Green St.
Soho House – Chicken Shop & PizzaEast(the two public restaurants in the Soho House – both casual but great)
113-125 N. Green St.
312-521-8000
BUCKTOWN/WICKER PARK
Lillie’s Q (good all-around BBQ)
1856 W North Ave
(773) 772-5500
Antique Taco (handmade tortillas, farmer’s market-inspired tacos)
1360 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-687-8697
Big Star (great cheap tacos, outstanding cocktails, fun outside patio which is enclosed during the winter)
1531 N. Damen
773-235-4039
Dove’s Luncheonette (diner from same owners as Big Star)
1545 N. Damen
773-645-4060
SOUTH SIDE/PILSEN
Dusek’s (farm to table, Bohemian, great food and drinks)
1227 W. 18th Street
312-526-3851
Nightwood (sister restaurant of Lula farm to table American)
2119 S. Halsted
312-526-3885
HYDE PARK
A10 (sister restaurant to Yusho in Logan Square and great addition to Hyde Park – American handcrafted fare)
10 Hyde Park Ave Bellwood
(773) 288- 1010
The Promontory (New to Hyde Park by same people as Longman & Eagle – great food and space with music venue upstairs)
5311 South Lake Park Avenue West
(312) 801-2100
CHINATOWN
Lao Sze Chuan, (also Lao Beijing & Lao Shanghai all by owner Tony Hu – regional Chinese)
2172 S Archer Ave
MingHin – (upscale Dim Sum)
2168 S Archer Ave
Cai – (upscale Dim Sum)
2100 S Archer Ave
Phoenix – (the good standby – great Chinese restaurant for large parties - for Dim Sum, Lunch or Dinner)
2131 S Archer Ave